A young boy ventures deep into a frozen forest. Snow and ice piled up against the endless sea of trees. The blues and greens of the needles covering the deep dark expanse of the night sky above. The ground, a sheet of fresh white, illuminated only by what little amount of moonlight manages to seep through.

The boy’s destination is a small clearing in the middle of the wood, where the sky opens up to reveal the vast expanse above. The trees, which seemed so oppressive, give way to this open space, as if a wall were preventing them from growing any farther.

The sound of footsteps in freshly fallen snow echo throughout the clearing as the boy makes his way to the center. His target is a small building. The roof slopes upwards, pointing towards the vast abyss above. The wooden floorboards creak and groan as the boy makes his way up the small set of stairs in front of the building’s door.

He sits down on the top stair, right before the entryway to the shrine. The night grows silent as he settles down, the aged wood beneath him quieting as he gets into place. He sits, patiently waiting for the night’s entertainment to begin.

The moon travels higher and higher into the sky, the space around it barren, devoid of it’s usual celestial partners. Eventually it reaches the apex of it’s journey, and something begins to change.

The forest around the boy begins to grow brighter as minuscule balls of light emerge from behind the trees. They begin to float higher and higher, making their way into the night sky.

One slowly approaches the boy. Stopping once it reaches him. He leans towards it, allowing it to shine it’s light over every part of his face. His hands begin to move up to the ball, almost as if they were moving on their own. He cups the light in his hands, and begins to whisper something to it.

Upon listening to his wish, the light begins to ascend into the sky, just as it’s piers had done moments prior. It floats higher and higher, eventually finding it’s place next to the moon.

The sky is full of newborn stars. The boy’s wish is safe among them.